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Deputies pulled over Jorge Vasconcelos, 25, about 9:30 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 40 just east of the Cherokee Truck Stop for a routine traffic violation, according to a news release. Vasconcelos' vehicle was weaving in and out of the eastbound lanes, causing the deputies to be concerned that he might be drunk or fatigued.

Vasconcelos told deputies he was driving to Georgia and was tired. He said he was not up to any criminal activity and allowed deputies to search his truck.

“My deputies thought it was really strange that he would just tell them they could search his vehicle out of the blue, so they thought that might be a good indicator that they should indeed search it,” Canadian County Sheriff Randall Edwards said.

Deputies found a loaded Bursa .380 caliber pistol and noticed that the intake manifold of the truck's engine might have been modified, the release said. They drove the truck to a secure location and removed the intake manifold, finding 8 kilos of heroin wrapped in cellophane, carbon paper and some kind of aluminum foil.

“This was a very sophisticated hidden compartment requiring a high degree of engineering in order to conceal over 17 pounds of narcotics worth over $3 million inside a functioning engine that someone could drive across the country,” Edwards said.

Vasconcelos was arrested on complaints of aggravated trafficking of heroin and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He was booked into the Canadian County Jail.